Q. Doctor, is it okay to drink coffee or zero-calorie drinks while I'm on a diet? Are there any specific drinks you recommend instead?

I once struggled myself by drinking four or five cups of Americano a day to lose weight—I felt nauseous and couldn't sleep at night. Even as a practitioner of Traditional Korean Medicine, I’ve made those mistakes! From a TKM perspective, while caffeine temporarily awakens metabolism, coffee is considered to have strong 'Fire' (火) energy, which can dry up the body's essential fluids (Jin-yeol). For those with 'Spleen Deficiency' (Biheo)—weak digestive functions—drinking coffee on an empty stomach damages the gastric mucosa and slows down digestion, potentially making it harder to lose weight in the long run. Furthermore, artificial sweeteners can trigger the brain to crave even stronger sweets. To expel 'Phlegm-rheum' (Dameum), which is accumulated metabolic waste, I most recommend plain warm water. If that is too difficult, corn silk tea or red bean tea are excellent alternatives as they promote urination and reduce swelling (edema). The key is your unique body status. Depending on whether you lack energy or suffer from bloating, the right drink changes. Instead of struggling alone, why not visit the clinic to check your 'Qi and Blood' (Gihyeol) status and find what truly suits your constitution?